By Shereen Siewert
Preliminary breath tests show a 62-year-old Mosinee man arrested this week on suspicion of driving drunk and entering the ditch multiple times had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.293 percent, more than 14 times the 0.02 percent limit imposed on him due to his four prior convictions and nearly four times the limit for other drivers in Wisconsin, according to court documents.
Police also discovered narcotics in his vehicle during a search, according to the police report.
Daniel Everson faces charges filed Sept. 16 in Marathon County Circuit Court of fifth offense drunken driving and possession of narcotics in connection with the Sept. 14 incident.
Police were notified at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday that a possibly impaired driver was traveling in the area of Locker Road in the town of Knowlton. The reporting party told police he was following an El Camino-style vehicle and observed the driver swerving and entering the ditch before driving behind a building at 154333 Locker Road, the report states.
Everson initially told officers he had been home for “quite awhile,” but eventually told police he was at a friend’s house helping him clean up loads of branches and shrubs and had a few drinks while the two were working together. “You try to help someone and you end up being in trouble,” Everson reportedly said, according to the report.
Police attempted administering field sobriety tests but discontinued them out of concern for Everson’s safety after he struggled to walk or stand without support. After the preliminary breath test result, Everson was transported to a local hospital for a blood draw and then to the Marathon County Jail.
During an initial appearance this week Circuit Judge Mike Moran ordered Everson held on a $6,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 25.
